Roller electrode soldering or brazing device

ABSTRACT

A hand-held soldering device has a rotary electrode through which one side of an electrical circuit is completed to the work when the device is pressed against the work.

United States Patent [72] Inventor ChlrlesA.Newton 1335 0 Street,Anchorage, Alaska Appl. No. 28,854 Filed Assistant Examiner-Hugh D..laeger Attorney-James H. Littlepage 1 221 Apr. 15, 1970 451 PatentedSept. 14,1971

[54] ROLLER ELECTRODE SOLDERING OR BRAZING DEVICE 5 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

219/84 ABSTRACT: A hand-held soldering device has a rotary elec- B23k11/06 trode through which one side of an electrical circuit is 219/81,82, completed to the work'when the device is pressed against the 83, 84;339/8, 108; 310/239, 242, 245, 247 work.

PATENTED SEPI 4 |97l IIII INVENTOR CHARLES A. NEWTON ATTORNEY ROLLERELECTRODE SOLDERING OR BRAZING DEVICE FIELD OF INVENTION ElectricHeating; Metal Heating; Bonding With Pressure; Roller Electrode, RollerMoves Over Work.

PRIOR ART Jones US. Pat. No. 1,101,448

OBJECTS The object of this invention is to provide a hand-held deviceprimarily intended for soldering, although adaptable for brazing by theuse of a different roller electrode. Essentially, it is intended toprovide a roller electrode which rolls along the work, to which work isconnected one side of a source of electrical circuit, and whichsoldering device is connected to the other side of the current source.Generally speaking, such devices are not broadly new, but in this one itis intended to provide in the electrical circuit leading to the rollerelectrode a brush which is normally disengaged from the rollerelectrode, and which engages the electrode only when the device isforced against the work. This arrangement not only provides for closingthe soldering or brazing current circuit at selected location, but alsoinsures that adequate force will be applied, not only to hold the rollerelectrode against the workpiece, but also to force the workpiece againstanother one, so that a firm and uniform bond can be soldered or brazed.

These and other objects will be apparent from the followingspecification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in longitudinal cross section, ofthe soldering device with the roller engaging a workpiece but with thebrush in inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the brush forcedforwardly to operative position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device in the FIG. 2 condition; and,

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denotesimilar elements, the soldering device 2 comprises a roller electrode 4which engages and rolls along a metal workpiece 6. It will be understoodthat workpiece 6 ordinarily engages another piece, not shown, to whichone side of a source of electrical circuit is connected if heat is to begenerated at the juncture of the workpiece. Alternatively, workpiece 6may be connected directly to the current source if it is desired togenerate heat at the point of surface contact of electrode 4 and asuitable device may be utilized for feeding solder onto the path of theelectrode. Ordinarily, for solder work, roller electrode 4, which isrotatably mounted on a chassis 8, would be constructed of brass and ahigh ampere current of low voltage would be used. For brazing, currentof higher voltage would be used, and for the higher degree of heatgenerated it would be preferable to make the roller electrode ofmaterial more heat resistant, such as a metal surfaced with thoriatedtungsten The hub 10 of roller electrode 4 is supported as by a bearingmember 12 on chassis 8, and engageable against the inner periphery 14 ofroller 4 is a brush 16. By comparing FIG. 1 with FIG. 2 it will beapparent that brush l6 and electrode 4 are normally disengaged, and thatthey make contact only when the brush is forced forwardly against theinner periphery of the roller.

The other side of the current source is connected to brush 16 through acable 18 which is electrically connected through a terminal 20 to aconductor piece 22. Conductor piece 22 is insulated from but slidablysupported on chassis 8 by means of an insulating strip 24 which isaffixed to piece 22 and which is reciprocally supported on chassis 8 bymeans of a track 26.

Upstanding from conductor piece 22 are a frame upright 28 and a diagonalbrace 30, in both of which are mounted a tubular socket 32 for the rearend of an expansion spring 34. The forward end of spring 34 bearsagainst an insulating pad 36 on a chassis upright 38 50 that,ordinarily, frame upright 28, and the parts rigidly associated therewith(including brush 16) are biased rearwardly from roller electrode 4.

Extending forwardly from frame upright 28 is a frame strip 40, on thelower side of which is fixed an insulating stop 42. Stop 42 engageschassis upright 38 to limit the rearward sliding of the frame under thebias of spring 34. Beneath the forward end of frame strip 40 is a brushholder 44, and supported on frame strip 40 between posts 46 is a handle48 of insulating material. If desired, posts 46 may also be formed ofinsulating material.

In operation, the various parts are normally biased by spring 34 to theposition shown in FIG. 1, wherein brush I6 is disengaged from the innerperiphery 14 of roller electrode 4, and the latter is not in electricalcircuit with cable 18 due to the insulating member 42, 36 and 24.However, when handle 48 is forced forwardly against the bias of spring34, brush l6 makes contact with the inner periphery 14 of rollerelectrode 4 so that an electrical circuit is completed from cable 18 toworkpiece 6 simultaneously with the application of force thereagainst.

I claim:

1. An electrical heating device for soldering or brazing comprising aroller electrode having a radially outward facing surface adapted toengage work to be heated,

a chassis rotatably supporting said roller electrode,

a frame of electrically conductive material movably connected to saidchassis for movement in forward and rearward directions towards and awayfrom the work engaged by said peripheral portion,

said frame and said chassis being normally insulated from one another,

spring means engaged between said chassis and frame for biasing the samerearwardly in the direction away from said work, whereby when saidradially outwardly facing surface is engaged against said work and saidframe is forced forwardly against the bias of said spring means,

said outwardly facing surface is forced against said work,

a conductor electrically connected to said frame and adapted to beconnected to a source of electricity,

and means for establishing an electrical circuit between said frame andsaid roller electrode when said frame is forced forwardly towards thework against the bias of said spring and for disestablishing saidcircuit when said spring forces said frame rearwardly away from saidwork.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1,

the peripheral portion of said roller electrode comprising an annularflange which also has a radially inward facing surface, the last-namedmeans including a brush which is mounted on said frame and which isengageable with said radially inward facing surface when said frame ismoved forwardly.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, and a handle formed ofelectrically insulating material on said frame.

4. An electrical heating device for soldering or brazing,

comprising a roller electrode having an annular flange with a radiallyoutward facing surface adapted to engage and roll along work,

a chassis rotatably supporting said roller electrode,

a frame slidably mounted on said chassis for sliding along a path whichextends in opposite directions radially of said flange,

spring means engaged between said chassis and frame for biasing saidframe to move in one radial direction,

said electrode, chassis, frame and spring means being so arranged thatwhen said outwardly facing surface of said electrode is engaged againstsaid work and the frame is said frame and so disposed as to engage theradially inward facing surface of said annular flange when said frame ismoved against the bias of said spring whereby to force the outwardlyfacing surface of the flange against the work.

5. The combination claimed in claim 4, said frame and said chassis beingelectrically insulated from one another.

1. An electrical heating device for soldering or brazing comprising a roller electrode having a radially outward facing surface adapted to engage work to be heated, a chassis rotatably supporting said roller electrode, a frame of electrically conductive material movably connected to said chassis for movement in forward and rearward directions towards and away from the work engaged by said peripheral portion, said frame and said chassis being normally insulated from one another, spring means engaged between said chassis and frame for biasing the same rearwardly in the direction away from said work, whereby when said radially outwardly facing surface is engaged against said work and said frame is forced forwardly against the bias of said spring means, said outwardly facing surface is forced against said work, a conductor electrically connected to said frame and adapted to be connected to a source of electricity, and means for establishing an electrical circuit between said frame and said roller electrode when said frame is forced forwardly towards the work against the bias of said spring and for disestablishing said circuit when said spring forces said frame rearwardly away from said work.
 2. The combination claimed in claim 1, the peripheral portion of said roller electrode comprising an annular flange which also has a radially inward facing surface, the last-named means including a brush which is mounted on said frame and which is engageable with said radially inward facing surface when said frame is moved forwardly.
 3. The combination claimed in claim 2, and a handle formed of electrically insulating material on said frame.
 4. An electrical heating device for soldering or brazing, comprising a roller electrode having an annular flange with a radially outward facing surface adapted to engage and roll along work, a chassis rotatably supporting said roller electrode, a frame slidably mounted on said chassis for sliding along a path which extends in opposite directions radially of said flange, spring means engaged between said chassis and frame for biasing said frame to move in one radial direction, said electrode, chassis, frame and spring means being so arranged that when said outwardly facing surface of said electrode is engaged against said work and the frame is forced contra to the bias of said spring means, said surface is forced against said work, and normally open electrical circuit means for closing an electrical circuit to said electrode when said frame is moved contra to the bias of said spring, said annular flange of said roller electrode also having a radially inwardly facing surface, said electrical circuit means including a brush carried by said frame and so disposed as to engage the radially inward facing surface of said annular flange when said frame is moved against the bias of said spring whereby to force the outwardly facing surface of the flange against the work.
 5. The combination claimed in claim 4, said frame and said chassis being electrically insulated from one another. 